Torridge

Torridge's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in health and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 64,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Torridge increased by 8.3%, from just under 59,000 to 63,800.

The addition of just under 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torridge was home to, on average, 0.46 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South West's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people living alone

This area saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 27% to 34%) and South Hams (from 28% to 31%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-person households.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, Torridge went from having the 20th-highest to the 15th-lowest percentage of single-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households in Torridge had only a single person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 8.1% to 9.2%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Torridge

The number of people in Torridge from the White ethnic groups increased from about 58,000 in 2001 to just over 63,000 in 2011. As a share of the total population, the percentage remained close to 99%.

Across the South West, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 98% to 95%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Torridge from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 250 in 2001 to just under 430 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.7%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 220 to just over 270. Both of these figures represented about 0.4% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 67 people (0.1%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 51 in 2001 (0.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Torridge remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

This area saw the South West's third-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 7.6% to 6.4%) and South Hams (from 4.4% to 3.7%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torridge said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 4.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 8.2% to 8.2%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Torridge residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.6% to 6.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Torridge residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Torridge decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torridge, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Torridge, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Torridge, the proportion of private renting increased from 14% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 9.9% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Torridge fell from 9.6% to 9.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 71%.

Private renting in Torridge increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Torridge, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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